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Russian government to consider draft space program

RIA Novosti

LE BOURGET (France), June 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government is to consider the new draft space program approved by the Economic Development and Trade Ministry at a session on July 14, head of the Russian Aerospace Agency (Roskosmos) Anatoly Perminov said at the air show in Le Bourget.

"German Gref approved the draft. The economic development and trade minister is interested in the program and understands its importance for the development of Russia's space sphere," Perminov said.

It was reported earlier that the ministry had approved the modified draft space program for 2006-2015.

Roskosmos official spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko said: "The economic development ministry and Roskosmos are seeking to increase the program financing by 30%."

Perminov also said that "this sum was required to complete the Russian segments of the International Space Station and launch 26 new Russian satellites."

According to him, in 2006 the state financing should reach 24 billion rubles ($839.16 million, or ?694.85 million).

In all, Roskosmos needs 305 billion rubles ($10.66 billion, or ?8.83 billion) for the implementation of the space program till 2015, Perminov added.

Today Russia has 99 satellites on the orbit, while the U.S. has 425 satellites.